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Sharon Colyear-Danville: 1955-2024

All at England Athletics are deeply sorry to hear of the passing of double Commonwealth Games and European Championships medallist, Sharon Colyear-Danville.

Born in Manchester, Sharon was a proud club member of Stretford AC throughout her competitive career. She burst onto the track and field scene when she took the 1969 AAA's under-15 200m title in a time of 25.5, returning one year later to take the under-17 title in 25.0. Just four years later in 1974, she made her European Championships debut as an under-20 athlete over the 200m, finishing in 6th in the semi-final, breaking 24 seconds with 23.98.

During these pivotal years in her career, Colyear-Danville travelled stateside to attend Boston University, where she now has a competition held in her honour and is a member of their Hall of Fame. She certainly made her mark as she won 13 Greater Boston titles whilst competing for the University.

Showing her true gift for speed, Sharon represented Great Britain over both the 100m and 100m hurdles at the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games, progressing to the semi-finals in both events.

One year later Colyear-Danville etched her way into the history books as she set a world record of 1:31.6 for the 4x200m with teammates Donna Hartley, Sonia Lannaman and Verona Elder at the WAAA Championships.

Fast forward to 1978 and she was part of an iconic 100m hurdles final at the Edmonton Commonwealth Games, where England took a clean sweep of medals with Lorna Boothe MBE taking the title, whilst Sharon Colyear-Danville took home the bronze.

Speaking on Sharon's outstanding career, Lorna Boothe MBE, said:

"Sharon was an extremely talented athlete and was great at any event she competed in. We were rivals in competition time and friends out of competition. I even let her cut my hair. Gone far too soon. RIP Sharon. I will treasure the memories. My sincere condolences to Bob and the family."

In recent years, Sharon had been residing in the USA. After being diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 1993, she sought to raise awareness and support women's ovarian cancer charities and organisations - raising over $86,000 for Women's Cancer Care through hosting golf tournaments. Over the years, more than $1 million has been raised or donated in her name to the American Cancer Society and other ovarian cancer organisations. Read more about Sharon's career in the USA in the Boston University tribute.

Our thoughts are with Sharon's husband of 43 years, Bob Danville, her children and grandchildren at this very difficult time.